Soul Heaven | Johnnie Taylor Lyrics, Meaning & Videos

Soul Heaven
Johnnie Taylor Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴Last night I dreamed I was at a concert
So many people, you had to stand in line
One night only in Soul Heaven
I didn't wanna wake up
I was having such a good time
All of The Bar-Kays were tuning up on stage
Jimi had his guitar, gettin' ready to play
Sam was singing "A Change Gonna Come" Otis was there, sittin' at the dock of the bay

There was a party in Soul Heaven
Superstars from the past
Standing room only, so you better hurry
Buy your ticket cause they're going fast

Train & Miles (J. Coltrane, took mean solo
Jr. Walker had 'em dancing in the isles
They stood up when Jackie sang "Lonley Teardrops"
When Sammy (Davis, Jr.) danced, the crowd went wild
I think I saw Ella standing with Mahalia
Backstage with Elvis with his blue suede shoes
It started raining, everybody just stayed there
To hear Z.Z. sing the "Down Home Blues"

Well there's a party in Soul Heaven
Superstars from the past
Standing room only, so you better hurry
Buy your ticket cause they're going fast

There's a party in Soul Heaven
Superstars from the past
The great Al Jackson was a holding down the beat
When Marvin sang "Let's Get It On", they jumped to
their feet
Everyone started screaming and gave a standing ovation
When the curtain came up with the mighty Temptations
King Curtis blew the "Soul Serenade"
Thought I saw Lady Day (B. Holiday) sittin' in the
shade
I got two lovers and I ain't ashamed
Lord I love the way sweet Mary (Wells) sings
It was getting kinda late, it was time to go
Tupac and Biggie (Smalls), they closed the show
(Boo!)
I didn't wanna wake up, I was having such a good time
I didn't wanna wake up, I was having such a good time
Pearl Bailey, she was there
Duke and Count, they were there
Woah Hathaway (Donnie), I saw him there
Dizzie and Satchmo, I saw 'em there
It was a party in Soul Heaven
You shoulda been there
You shoulda been there
Everyone was having such a good time

Soul Heaven
Soul Heaven


Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Johnnie Taylor's "Soul Heaven" describe a dream in which the singer has the opportunity to attend an amazing concert in Soul Heaven. The first verse sets the scene, describing the crowded concert lineup that the singer came across, with all of The Bar-Kays tuning up on stage, Jimi Hendrix getting ready to play, and Sam Cooke singing "A Change Gonna Come" while Otis Redding was sittin' at the dock of the bay. The second verse continues with the fun that the concert attendees were having, dancing and practically standing on their chairs in excitement as Jr. Walker performed, and enthusiastically cheering on Jackie Wilson, Sammy Davis Jr., and Z.Z. Hill as they gave their performances. The third verse brings on the big names, with Ella Fitzgerald and Mahalia Jackson making an appearance backstage alongside Elvis Presley with his blue suede shoes. There's even mention of the fresh rain that fell near the end of the concert, which didn't stop the attendees from staying put to hear the amazing Z.Z. Hill give an encore performance of "Down Home Blues." The final verse really brings the show of legends to a finale, where greats like Al Jackson, Marvin Gaye, and King Curtis filled the stage, and Tupac and Biggie were the ones who closed the show, eventually leading the singer to wonder whether it was even real or a beautiful dream.


"Soul Heaven" is a heartwarming tribute to R&B and soul legends, and is perfect as a feel-good anthem, providing the listener an escape into a beautiful dream world. The lyrics reflect the joy that these icons have brought to the masses and how even in death they have continued to inspire generations of music lovers. Upbeat and reminiscent, the song is also full of references that any soul music fan would enjoy.


Line by Line Meaning

Last night I dreamed I was at a concert
The singer is dreaming about being at a concert


So many people, you had to stand in line
The concert was very popular, and a lot of people had to wait in line to get in


One night only in Soul Heaven
The concert was a one-time event in a place called Soul Heaven


I didn't wanna wake up
The artist was enjoying the dream so much they didn't want it to end


I was having such a good time
The artist was enjoying the concert dream


All of The Bar-Kays were tuning up on stage
The Bar-Kays were preparing to play music on stage


Jimi had his guitar, gettin' ready to play
Jimi Hendrix was preparing to play his guitar on stage


Sam was singing 'A Change Gonna Come'
Sam Cooke was singing his famous song 'A Change Gonna Come'


Otis was there, sittin' at the dock of the bay
Otis Redding was present, perhaps recalling his hit song 'Sitting on the Dock of the Bay'


There was a party in Soul Heaven
The concert was like a party in Soul Heaven


Superstars from the past
The artists performing at the concert were deceased and considered legends


Standing room only, so you better hurry
The concert was so popular that there was only standing room left, so one should hurry to get in


Train & Miles (J. Coltrane, took mean solo
John Coltrane and Miles Davis were performing, with Coltrane taking an impressive solo


Jr. Walker had 'em dancing in the isles
Jr. Walker was making the audience dance in the aisles


They stood up when Jackie sang 'Lonley Teardrops'
The audience stood up when Jackie Wilson sang his song 'Lonely Teardrops'


When Sammy (Davis, Jr.) danced, the crowd went wild
Sammy Davis Jr. caused the crowd to go wild with his dancing


I think I saw Ella standing with Mahalia
The artist believes they saw Ella Fitzgerald standing with Mahalia Jackson


Backstage with Elvis with his blue suede shoes
Elvis Presley was backstage wearing his signature blue suede shoes


It started raining, everybody just stayed there
It started raining, but everyone stayed at the concert and didn't leave


To hear Z.Z. sing the 'Down Home Blues'
Z.Z. Hill was singing his song 'Down Home Blues' and people were there to hear him perform it


The great Al Jackson was a holding down the beat
The drummer Al Jackson was performing and keeping the rhythm


When Marvin sang 'Let's Get It On', they jumped to their feet
Marvin Gaye sang his hit song 'Let's Get It On', causing the audience to jump up and dance


Everyone started screaming and gave a standing ovation
The audience was very enthusiastic and gave the performer a standing ovation


When the curtain came up with the mighty Temptations
The Temptations came on stage after the previous performer


King Curtis blew the 'Soul Serenade'
King Curtis was playing his signature song 'Soul Serenade'


Thought I saw Lady Day (B. Holiday) sittin' in the shade
The singer believes they saw Billie Holiday, also known as Lady Day, sitting in a shady area


I got two lovers and I ain't ashamed
The singer has two lovers and is not ashamed of it


Lord I love the way sweet Mary (Wells) sings
The artist loves the way Mary Wells sings


It was getting kinda late, it was time to go
The concert was ending and it was getting late


Tupac and Biggie (Smalls), they closed the show (Boo!)
Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. closed the show, but the audience didn't like it much (hence the 'Boo!')


Pearl Bailey, she was there
The late singer and actress Pearl Bailey was present


Duke and Count, they were there
Jazz legends Duke Ellington and Count Basie were both at the concert


Woah Hathaway (Donnie), I saw him there
Donny Hathaway was at the concert


Dizzie and Satchmo, I saw 'em there
Jazz trumpeters Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong were both at the concert


You shoulda been there
The singer believes that the concert was so amazing that everyone should have attended it


Everyone was having such a good time
The concert was enjoyable for all who attended


Soul Heaven
The concert was like being in heaven for lovers of soul music


Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CHARLES RICHARD CASON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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